A marine reserve

Before the National Park Service shuts out people from enjoying parts of Biscayne National Park with a proposed marine reserve, every available option should be tried first.

There’s already a vast no-spearfishing zone that begins at the park’s southern border, as well as a marine reserve already in place around Carysfort Reef, less than 10 miles from the proposed reserve.

Many attendees at meetings where the Park Service was taking comments on the management plan pleaded for more enforcement of existing regulations. We also suggested more boater education.

Biscayne National Park has a memo of understanding with the Florida Fish and Wildlife Conservation Commission to manage the park together and “seek the least restrictive management actions necessary to fully achieve mutual management goals for the fishery resources of the park and adjoining areas.”

Closing part of the park hardly seems like the least restrictive option.

This story was originally published September 3, 2015 at 1:00 PM with the headline "A marine reserve."